Alles voor de Kunst

Het Rijk moet bijspringen, want gemeenten hebben niet genoeg geld voor de cultuursector, schreven de cultuurwethouders van de vier grootste steden op 17 mei in de Volkskrant.

Inmiddels heeft ook mijn favoriete galerie, Galerie Stam, in Amsterdam zijn deuren moeten sluiten. Dat doorgaan een lijdensweg zou worden, staat buiten kijf. “Er komt een recessie aan, zegt galeriehouder en kunstenaar Matthijs Stam, het eerste waar mensen dan mee stoppen is het kopen van kunst. Bijeenkomsten organiseren is er ook niet meer bij. In onze kleine ruimte sta je dan als haringen in een ton. Hartstikke gezellig, maar nu ondenkbaar. Ondertussen loopt de hoge huur gewoon door. Je hoeft geen zakelijk rekenwonder te zijn om te snappen dat dit einde oefening is.”

De financiële klappen als gevolg van Corona kunnen dit soort kleine ongesubsidieerde galeries, niet opvangen. Maar ook de grotere jongens hebben het moeilijk. Dat online galeries juist nu als paddestoelen uit de grond schieten is niet toevallig, maar er is zeker geen reden om te denken dat dit dè oplossing is. Een kunstenaar heeft immers baat bij een fysieke galerie waar publiek zijn of haar werk kan bekijken in een ruimte die zich daar voor leent en waarbij iemand aanwezig is om bezoekers ter plekke te informeren over het desbetreffende werk en de maker. Kunst moet je niet alleen raken, je moet het ook aan kunnen raken.

Ik las dat kunstenaars samen verantwoordelijk zijn voor 3,5% van ons bruto nationaal product. Toch is rechts nog steeds van mening dat kunst een linkse hobby is.

Gelukkig denkt niet iedereen er zo over. "[Kunst en cultuur] zijn onlosmakelijk verbonden met onze economie, werkgelegenheid, toerisme, integratie, onderwijs en zorg. Ze zijn onmisbaar in onze samenleving", aldus Touria Meliani, Said Kasmi, Robert van Asten, en Anke Klein (cultuurwethouders, van Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Haag en Utrecht).

Elke grote en kleine ondernemer in Nederland weet dat je moet investeren om geld te verdienen. Om die reden wordt er dan ook geld nog moeite gespaard om bedrijven die zwaar te lijden hebben onder de Corona-crisis financieel te helpen. Voor de kunst- en cultuursector is er een steunfonds van 300 miljoen euro opgericht. Maar er is veel meer geld nodig. Daarbij vraag ik mij af waarom er niet gezamenlijk wordt opgestaan om meteen ook die kaalslag in de kunst van zo’n tien jaar geleden plùs de btw-verhoging (van 6 naar 9%) terug te draaien. Want wat is een land zonder kunst?

Om met de woorden van Sir Peter Bazalgette te eindigen:

"Imagine society without the civilising influence of the arts and you'll have to strip out what is most pleasurable in life. [...] The inherent value of culture, its contribution to society, its symbiotic relationship with education and, yes, its economic power (but in that order) … this is what we call the holistic case for public support of arts and culture." 

What am I

Dutch
Keramist (m) -en beoefenaar v.d. pottenbakkerskunst, pottenbakker; (v) -miste -n en -s; ook ceramist
Pot·ten·bak·ker (de; m,v; meervoud: pottenbakkers) maker van potten.

English
Potter /ˈpɒtə/ noun: potter; plural noun: potters; a person who makes dishes, plates, and other objects from clay, usually by hand on a special wheel.

'Potter' seems to be a collective name for anyone who makes something out of clay. But there is an essential difference between a potter and a ceramist. A potter is someone who makes pots and other ceramic goods, while ceramist is a person who makes ceramic objects.

Although both groups can be successful in what they do and both work with clay, the comparison ends here.

According to the English, but also the Dutch dictionaries, a potter ('pottenbakker' in Dutch) is someone who makes pots, but most Dutch dictionaries mention the same under 'keramist' ('ceramist' in English).

It's kind of weird. If you tell a stranger that you are a sculptor, they will probably ask you what material you use. But almost no one would immediately assume that you work with clay. And so you use the word ceramist, but then they get confused with potter.
That is why I use the term 'ceramic sculptor' nowadays. I know it sounds a bit pretentious, but people understand this better and won't ask me to make them a series of plates again.

The funny thing is that I don't only make sculptures. For example, I am currently working on a series of boxes, in between I make small ceramic paintings and I have made a whole series of ceramic book covers.
To be honest, there is no better name for this than simply 'ceramist', but it is precisely that name that defines me - at least according to the Dutch dictionaries - as someone who makes pots.

Spring is here - A new fresh art exhibition

Have you already completed your spring cleaning? Maybe it's time for something new to decorate your walls and cabinets with.

The annual group exhibition at Galerie Stam is the best opportunity to purchase something really beautiful to spice up your room. The exhibition will be officially opened on April 14 (doors open at 02:00 pm) and will run through June 2019.

About Galerie Atelier Stam
This gallery is known for the broad range of artists they represent and the wide variety of materials and genres in which they work.

TNT by Niqui Kommerkamp - ceramic box, 11 x 11 x 16 cm

Galerie Atelier Stam
Prinsengracht 356
1016 JA Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. (Free entrance)

Christmas Art Sale 2018

During the weekend of December 15 and 16, a special exhibition will be held at WG Kunst in Amsterdam; more than 100 works of art by more than 100 artists are offered for 100 euros each. Drawings, paintings, graphics, sculptures, jewelry, ceramics, glassware and more. Free entrance.

Address: Marius van Bouwdijk Bastiaansestraat 28 Amsterdam

More information: wgkunst@wgkunst.nl  *  +31 (0)20 6161515

Obscure Art

Camera obscura basically means 'dark room', but in this case it refers to a simple device; a box with a simple tiny opening (a pinhole) with which photos can be taken, therefore also known as a 'pinhole camera'.
This device is far from a modern invention. Apart from Leonardo Da Vinci who describes it in his notebooks, even Aristotle understood the optical principle of the camera obscura.

In the 17th century it was a fairly popular aid for painters to help them to project an image. It was only from the first half of the 19th century that people began to use them in combination with photosensitive materials to take photographs. Nowadays it is mainly used in art projects or to entertain, either by building or by using one.

I've always wanted to build one myself. It took a while, but I think it was worth it.

@niquikommerkamp

New website

I know. An artist website is never finished, but I'm actually quite happy with it.
You're more than welcome to visit my site, so what are you waiting for? Click, click, click!

Ceramic whistles

You’ll find ancient folk instruments all around the world. The best-known instruments were flutes, whistles, and ocarinas of clay. These instruments were often decorated with symbolic figures, and were generally stylized to resemble animals, metaphysical entities, or people.
There are whistles and ocarinas representing ocelots, iguanas, frogs, chameleons, crickets, turtles, parrots and a great number of other birds. These ancient instruments can generate extraordinary sounds depending on their shape and size

Nowadays you can still learn to make these wind instruments. The Mexican artist Osvaldo Padrón for example, has a broad experience as a teacher (both in Mexico and The Netherlands) and makes wind instruments that are rooted in the tradition of the pre-Hispanic culture of the Aztec in Mexico.

Like to make your own ceramic flute?
On November 11th & December 9th, 2017 Osvaldo organizes the workshop 'Ceramic Flutes' that will take place at Keramiek Atelier Patty Schilder, located in the heart of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.  There are only a few places left, so be quick to sign up here.

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Keramiek Atelier Patty Schilder

Lijnbaansgracht 102 bg, 1016 KT Amsterdam

www.pattyschilder.nl • keramiek@pattyschilder.nl

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Untouchable

Bronze Shield - Ceramic wall object by Niqui - 48 x 25 x 10cm

Ceramics Exhibition

Google Maps

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Opening hours: Wednesday - Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm

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New Year's Exhibition

Happy new year!

The annual group exhibition at Gallery Stam will be officially opened on Sunday, February 5 at 3:30 pm (doors open 2:00 pm).

Participating artists this year include: Patrick van der Linde, Marije van Wieringen, Cécile ter Borgh, Luurd van der Dussen, Jenny van Gimst, Jan Jaap Stigter, Niqui Kommerkamp, Iša Ondráček, Monica Sandell, Matthijs Stam, Adriana Schuurman and John Stikvoort.

Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. (Free entrance)

Christmas Art Sale

During the weekend of December 17 and 18, a special exhibition will be held at WG Kunst in Amsterdam; more than 100 works of art by more than 100 artists are offered for 100 euros each. Drawings, paintings, graphics, sculptures, jewelry, ceramics, glassware and more. Free entrance.

Address: Marius van Bouwdijk Bastiaansestraat 28 Amsterdam (show on map)
More information: wgkunst@wgkunst.nl | +31 (0)20 6161515


In het weekend van 17 & 18 december 2016 zijn meer dan honderd kunstwerken van ruim honderd kunstenaars voor honderd euro per stuk te koop bij WG Kunst, Marius van Bouwdijk Bastiaansestraat 28 Amsterdam (Wilhelmina Gasthuisterrein).
Kopers kunnen het kunstwerk na betaling meteen meenemen. Op de vrijgekomen plek wordt direct een ander kunstwerk geplaatst. Zo is sprake van een telkens wisselende tentoonstelling.

Meer informatie: wgkunst@wgkunst.nl | www.wgkunst.nl | 020 6161515

Airheads

Exhibited at Gallery Stam from May 15 to July 16 2016. A series of half head vases with various oxides by Niqui Kommerkamp.

Exhibition "KLEI"

The Annual ceramics exhibition at Gallery Stam will this year be held from May 15 to July 16. Participating artists are: Niqui Kommerkamp, Monica Sandell, Cécile ter Borgh and Rudy Henriquez.

The exhibition will be officially opened on Sunday, May 15 at 3:30 pm (doors open 2:00 pm).

Address: Galerie Atelier Stam, Prinsengracht 356, Amsterdam, Nederland

Perfect imperfection, it’s not

According to the Latin from which the word is derived, perfection is the finished state of something. Imperfect would therefore only mean that it’s just not finished yet.
My work entails objects that might look like things that once were perfect (or nearly perfect), but have now entered a decrepit state. And that’s exactly what I aim for.
I see the strenght of color, or the lack of it, the worn surfaces, rough edges, oxidized details & fading texts or images, and from it I read the underlying story.
To say that my work samples the art of imperfection, would therefore be doing it injustice. It’s never solely about the objects, always also about the stories.

Happy New Year!

New Year Exhibition at Gallery Stam

Gallery Stam, located in the center of Amsterdam at the Prinsengracht, is specialized in contemporary realistic art. Within this specialization they exhibit as broad an example as possible of art from the Netherlands and from a few other countries as well.

Participating artists in this particular exhibition include: Marije van Wieringen, Cécile ter Borgh, Luurd van der Dussen, Jenny van Gimst, Jaap Hartman, Niqui Kommerkamp, Iša Ondráček, Monica Sandell, Matthijs Stam and Alison Chambers.

This exhibition will be officially opened on Sunday February 7 at 4:00 pm (doors open 2:00 pm).

Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. (Free entrance)

WG Kunst Sale 2015

During the weekend of December 12 and 13, a special exhibition will be held at WG Kunst in Amsterdam; more than 100 works of art by more than 100 artists are offered for 100 euros each. Drawings, paintings, graphics, sculptures, jewelry, ceramics, glassware and more. Free entrance.

Address: Marius van Bouwdijk Bastiaansestraat 28 Amsterdam (show on map)
More information: wgkunst@wgkunst.nl | +31 (0)20 6161515

In het weekend van 12 & 13 december 2015 zijn meer dan honderd kunstwerken van ruim honderd kunstenaars voor honderd euro per stuk te koop bij WG Kunst, Marius van Bouwdijk Bastiaansestraat 28 Amsterdam (Wilhelmina Gasthuisterrein). Kopers kunnen het kunstwerk na betaling meteen meenemen. Op de vrijgekomen plek wordt direct een ander kunstwerk geplaatst. Zo is sprake van een telkens wisselende tentoonstelling.

Meer informatie: wgkunst@wgkunst.nl | www.wgkunst.nl | 020 6161515

Artists' Books

Artists' books are works of art that utilize the form of the book. They are often published in small editions, though they are sometimes produced as one-of-a-kind objects. 

Galerie 'S' exhibits books with unconventional binding methods and experiments with materials other than the traditional paper, such as metals, textiles, ceramics, wood and even glass. Participating artists are Lydia Bakker, Jan bervoets, Hanneke van Gent, Henri de Haas, Geertrui van Herwijnen, Daniëlle van Hilten, Agnes de Kok, Niqui Kommerkamp, Rik Lina, Carrie Meijer, Ansje v/d Muyzenberg, Annette Palstra, Marlies Rekers, Lies Verdenius en Ben Vollers.

The exhibition runs from October 30 to November 8, 2015. 

Opening hours: 
Friday October 30 from 4 to 7 pm; Saturdays & Sundays from 3 to 6 pm

Address: 
Gallery 'S', Waldeck Pyrmontlaan 21, 1075 BT Amsterdam

Mirroring time in Ceramics

The National Museum of Ceramics, De Princessehof, in Leeuwarden (Netherlands) presents ceramics as the cultural memory of the 20th century. The exhibition 'The 20th century – mirroring time in ceramics' tells the story of the previous century through approximately 400 ceramic objects, ranging from avant-garde to mass-produced objects. 

The ceramic objects are complemented by objects from other fine and applied art disciplines, and include furniture, paintings, a jukebox and even an original caravan from 1960. There are also film footage and historical photographs, which locate the ceramic objects in time. 

The exhibition can be seen from 5 September 2015 until 3 July 2016. 

Ceramics Museum Princessehof, Grote Kerkstraat 11, 8911 DZ Leeuwarden 

A Life in Clay

Ruth Duckworth (1919 -2009) was a brilliant Modernist sculptor whose work in clay and bronze included monumental sculptures and murals, as well as small-scale pieces.

Born in Hamburg, Germany, Ruth came to Liverpool in 1936 as a refugee from the Nazi regime to join her sister, and to study at the Liverpool School of Art. It was only after the war that she became really fascinated with ceramics and in 1956 she started studying pottery at the Central School of Art and Crafts.

In 1964 she accepted a one-year teaching appointment at the University of Chicago but continued in this faculty post for 13 years and continued living in the United States until her death in 2009.

Her work over the past five decades has contributed significantly to the development of Modernist style in sculpture, and her work reflects that radical way of working and thinking. Ruth shaped new ways of thinking about ceramics and brought an aesthetic rigour to her refined vessel forms, her figurative sculptures and installations. Most of her sculptures are inspired by the abstracted forms of nature. Many are shaped in stone, porcelain and bronze. Her most celebrated works however, have been in clay.

According to Emmanuel Cooper, a British ceramist and an editor of Ceramic Review, she was "a great original. Pioneering her own path within ceramics, brilliantly exploring the idea of the figure, the vessel and the more abstract form.”

'Clouds Over Lake Michigan'

Her most famous large-scale work is 'Clouds Over Lake Michigan', a figurative depiction of the Lake Michigan watershed, which is on display at the Chicago Board Options Exchange Building. In the last decade she completed several monumental bronze sculptures for, among others, the campus of the Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. Duckworth's work is represented in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection as well as major collections in the United States, Europe, and Japan.


Excerpts from 'Ruth Duckworth: A Life in Clay', the award winning documentary that traces the life of this prolific ceramic sculptor. Directed by Karen Carter.

Expositie Klei